As an organization led by a formerly incarcerated person, we know rebuilding one’s life is rarely straightforward. While expungement is often treated as a legal transaction, we experienced how traditional models often prioritize paperwork over people. That realization challenged us to reimagine our approach.

On May 6, 2026, Community leaders, advocates, and impacted residents will gather for a press conference and rally urging the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to prioritize care-based alternatives to incarceration in the FY 2026-2027 County budget.

Megan Castillo and Andrew Krinks engage in a candid and insightful conversation about how they are using innovative advocacy approaches to advance a community-led agenda for their city or county’s entire budget.

It’s not enough to just pass a ballot measure. We also have to hold elected leaders and decision makers accountable to ensure the fidelity of what voters approved. We bring this accountability through implementation, which is the process for how funding is allocated through Measure J.

Establishing independent pretrial services was one of the foundation recommendations adopted by the Board in 2019, and it remains a critical strategy to reducing LA County’s massive jail population and finally closing the deadly Men’s Central Jail.

Los Angeles Times: Los Angeles County’s proposed budget for next year is about $1.4 billion smaller than the previous year’s but adds more mental health workers and increases funding to address homelessness.